403-10 Direct Support Professional

Venture Community Services Inc•Paxton, MA

2d•$18 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional is responsible for the daily care, supervision, and safety of developmentally disabled individuals in residential and community settings. The role reports to the Residential House Manager, or to the Assistant Residential House Manager when the Residential House Manager is absent. It includes providing alert and responsive overnight coverage, carrying out assignments from the Residential House Manager, and implementing Individual Support Plans and Behavioral Management Plans. The position is compensated hourly. The role also involves supporting individuals’ health, personal care, self-medication, daily living skills, finances, appointments, meals, religious participation, leisure activities, and advocacy. Staff maintain records, complete household tasks, support programmatic planning, and help ensure the residence and community activities remain safe. Duties may include physical assistance with transfers, personal hygiene, emergency evacuation, and emergency behavioral situations. Direct Support Professionals may be assigned additional responsibilities such as individual advocacy, safety checks, or healthy eating coordination. The position requires maintaining relevant certifications, completing agency orientation and mandatory training, following agency policies, and remaining on duty when scheduled relief has not arrived. Part-time staff are not required to attend staff meetings but must attend all mandatory training.

Requirements

High school degree or G.E.D.
Must be at least 21 years old.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Must be available by telephone for daily contact.
Maintain First Aid, CPR, MAP, and PABC certifications.
Complete Agency Orientation.
Obtain and maintain certification in Applied Non-Violence.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and program emergencies.
Ability to advocate for and establish rapport with people with disabilities, their families, coworkers, and service providers.
Must not engage in actions that jeopardize individuals’ care or safety.

Nice To Haves

Daily use of a car on site is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Monitor individuals’ health and safety in residential and community settings.
Safely evacuate individuals from the residence in the event of a fire or disaster.
Physically assist individuals with transfers and carries, including ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals.
Physically escort or restrain individuals during emergency situations or behavioral episodes.
Assist with bathing and personal hygiene, including lifts and support for individuals weighing 150–250 pounds.
Educate, supervise, and monitor individuals’ self-medication programs.
Train and support individuals in goals and objectives specified in Individual Support Plans and behavioral plans.
Schedule and assist with transportation to medical appointments.
Educate and assist individuals with meal preparation and food shopping.
Educate and assist individuals with finances, banking, receipts, purchasing, and recordkeeping.
Transport, accompany, educate, and supervise individuals during visits to their place of worship.
Maintain records and document daily data.
Perform daily housekeeping and cleaning, including laundry, dishes, mopping, sweeping, and snow shoveling; report repair and maintenance needs.
For overnight awake staff, take primary responsibility for cleaning common areas and bathrooms.
For overnight asleep staff, remain available for direct care duties during the morning routine and assist overnight when required.
Write, evaluate, and assess individuals for programmatic planning.
Work flexible schedules to meet program coverage needs, including weekends, holidays, emergencies, and overnight coverage.
Implement agency policies and procedures and maintain confidentiality and a positive demeanor while managing multiple priorities.
Coordinate and assist with planning leisure time.
Perform individual advocacy duties and provide support during end-of-life care in line with palliative-care and Hospice-based services.
Remain on duty after scheduled hours if not relieved by oncoming staff.
Attend weekly staff meetings when required; part-time staff must attend all mandatory training.
When assigned advocate duties, prepare an advocate agenda, lead discussion about the individual, prepare end-of-month data and documentation, keep records complete and organized, and help ensure medical, dental, personal, and social needs are met.
When assigned Safety Officer duties, conduct safety checks of the home, van, and grounds, report findings, attend quarterly Safety Committee meetings, and communicate general and seasonal safety issues.
When assigned Healthy Eating Officer duties, follow agency nutrition policies and training, participate in Food for Health training, prepare weekly menus based on dietary needs, lead healthy-eating discussions, maintain shopping lists and healthy pantry/freezer items, and model healthy eating practices.
Perform other job-related duties as requested and handle duties in compliance with agency policy.
Review weekly staff meeting notes and provide input to meeting agendas.